Luxembourg’s pioneering efforts in building broadcasting networks, satellite systems, and on-line services were met with increased competition in 1996, notably from Rupert Murdoch’s News International, which owned 40% of British Sky Broadcasting. Compagnie Luxembourgeoise de Télédiffusion was one of Europe’s biggest media companies, with interests in 10 television networks and 13 radio stations in eight countries. Luxembourg was also home to the world’s second largest satellite company, Société Européenne des Satellites.

In May the European Union announced that only Luxembourg and France were likely to meet the conditions required for adopting the EU single currency, scheduled for introduction in 1999. Anne Roby